Given T3 to try with thyroxine but given little advice. Also have adrenal issues which possibly hampering treatment. Help please.

[Blackcap]

Hi everyone, am a new member and have been reading some of the posts. So impressed by help and advice given. Could anyone please advice me re T3 treatment when also have adrenal issues? I have been taking thyroxine since 2002 at various doses. In last few years also been diagnosed with mitochondrial problems and more recently an adrenal stress profile test showed low cortisol and low DHEA. After recent blood tests I have been given liothyronine to take, 5mg in morn and then again early afternoon. I am presently on 75mg of levo.

My blood results showed the following

Serum tsh 3.37 (0.35-4.94)

Serum free t4. 13.1 (9.00-19.00)

Serum free t3. 3.2 (2.6-5.7)

Thyroglobulin autoantibodies. 54ku/l

Serum thyroglobulin. 7.7ug/l

Thyroid per oxidase <10

Please tell me if any other results would be helpful.

Trouble is since starting the t3 I feel really anxious and nervy, on edge all the time. Heart pounding although not really racing. I feel even weaker,more exhausted. Have been on treatment for about 10 days now but only increased to 10mg in total last fri.

Can anyone advice me if this reaction due to too much t3 and thyroxine together or perhaps because adrenals too weak to cope at moment? Should I stop and try to correct adrenals first? Sorry been given so little advice from dr.

Any thoughts much appreciated. Many thanks.

[Parbrook]

If you simply added the 10mcg T3 to the 75mcg Levothyroxine, you may now be over-medicated, which could result in the hyper symptoms that you describe.

Normally, the Levothyroxine would be reduced when adding T3.

Even if the Levothyroxine has been reduced, it will take a few weeks to take effect, so you may feel hyper symptoms until the lower dose becomes effective.

[Blackcap in reply to Parbrook]

Yes, I wondered if should have reduced thyroxine, perhaps by 2⅝mg but was not sure if due to that or adrenals.thanks for your replies, much appreciated.

[Blackcap]

Thanks petals, I do have his book, gradually working way through it. Hard with the brain fog. Have started implementing changes like extra vit c, diet e5c. I wonder if should leave 53 for now but my gp thinks if I correct thyroid it will help adrenals, so confusing!.

[Caze]

If u have low cortisol u can have problems tolerating T3. Paul Robinson's bk Recovering with T3 suggests taking an early dose of T3 to help with low cortisol (CT3M). I wd strongly suggest u buy the bk.

I am following this protocol myself. Also low iron can cause problems. Ferritin needs to be in the 70-90 range. Normally yr thyroxone is reduced by 25 for every 10 of T3. U cd try this and see if u feel better but my bet is on the low cortisol causing the problems.

[Blackcap in reply to Caze]

Thanks caze, sorry only just seen your reply. My cortisol is only low mid morn but DHEA low all day. Been suggested I take DHEA in tablet form but not keen to try this yet.

I have heard of the book, I thought perhaps it was just for t3 treatment only rather than also t4/t3 in combination ?

May I ask how long been following protocol and if noticing any difference?

Have read so many conflicting opinions on whether to treat adrenals or thyroid first, guess been trying to compromise by treating adrenals with diet and then thyroid with meds.

Thanks again for advice.

[Caze in reply to Blackcap]

Yes his bk is based on his journey to wellness which was only reached when he went T3 only. However he gives a lot of info on T3 and the adrenals so is useful even if u r on a combo.

Its still early days fr me. Hospital has recently confirmed I have a conversion problem and have prescribed T3. I am on 50/30. Still tired . reckon blood tests will show I am still low.